The ECHR awarded compensation to two National Bolsheviks accused of violence against police officers over a 2006 protest

The European Court of Human Rights has awarded compensation to former members of the National Bolshevik Party Mikhail Bashin and Sergei Chekunov, who were prosecuted under an article on the use of violence against government officials for a 2006 rally in St. Petersburg. This was reported on the website of the court.

The Court considered that the right to liberty and security of person (Article 5 of the Convention) had been violated in respect of Bashin and Chekunov. In addition, the court found a violation of the right not to be tried again (Article 4 of Protocol No. 7 to the Convention) in relation to Bashin.

Bashin was awarded compensation in the amount of 9750 euros, Chekunov - five thousand euros.

The action that became the reason for the persecution took place on November 22, 2006. Five people broke into the building of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg, shouting "We do not need such a Legislative Assembly." They scatter leaflets in which the parliament was called a “shame for the city”, and the speaker Vadim Tyulpanov was called an enemy of St. Petersburg, recalls Mediazona.

Bashin and Chekunov were first arrested for 10 days under administrative articles, after which they were accused under the Criminal Code of using non-dangerous violence against police officers (1st part of Article 318 of the Criminal Code) and insulting a representative of the authorities (Article 319 of the Criminal Code). The investigation considered that Bashin and Chekunov pushed the policeman M. and that their leaflets contained insults against the authorities.

Bashin and Chekunov spent four months in custody, and on March 2 they were released . The criminal case ended with an amicable agreement, Mediazona reports.